Enfield raises taxes, but the bigger fight is just beginning

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  The budget fight Monday was sharply partisan and along familiar lines: cuts versus spending, and tax rates versus services. But the debate is also being shaped by forces that have little to do with party politics. The Enfield Town Council adopted a budget that set the mill rate at 33.11, a 1.61 mill increase, or about 5.1%, for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Republicans opposed it and lost every vote to amend the majority proposal. The final vote was 7-4. The approaches could not have been more different. Carol Hall, a Republican councilor and state representative, said Republicans were aiming for roughly a quarter-mill increase, which she said would add about $3.85 a month to the tax bill of a $300,000 home. The adopted budget adds about $338 annually — roughly $28 a month — to the tax bill of a $300,000 home assessed at 70%. The biggest point of contention was a Republican proposal to reduce the Board of Education increase by about $1.9 million and instead use school reserve...
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WHY do stores bother with one-way signs? Because large numbers of people ignore them

 


So I'm trying to understand why one way signs in grocery stores are increasingly ignored. I post on Enfield's Facebook page raising this question and wait for the responses. Here is a summary of the main arguments: 

1. “The virus isn’t that communicable. It’s been overstated.” 

2. “I am not a sheep.” 

3. “If six feet apart works, why the mask?” 

4. “Some people don’t pay attention to the signs.” 

The only one I get is 4. People do blank, don't notice, are pre-occupied etc. Following directional signs in a grocery store isn't in their DNA. 

The rest of the reasons are mostly nonsense. People reach their own reasons for rejecting the science, or view it -- the sheep comments -- are imperial overreach by the federal virus storm troopers. 

I think we’re all reaching a point where the virus is in our collective rear view mirror, and that’s in part due to the decent job we did in this state to bring it under control. But until this thing goes away, or treatment or vaccine arrives, we still got a problem.

I do see elderly people in the stores. They can’t afford the home delivery (it really adds to the costs) and they may not have the support, friends or relatives, who can shop for them. I watch some of the and they can be super cautious. There’s others like that as well who really try to avoid others. For many, there's a still a real fear.

Even if you have strong objections, don’t see the point and don’t have the time or interest to follow the arrows, at least be careful around those who are uniquely vulnerable because of age. It’s just being polite. There’s nothing wrong with doing that and it's so simple.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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